Commanders' rookie describes himself in four words

Athan Kaliakmanis is pretty certain folks are underestimating him.

Kaliakmanis came off the practice field Friday at the Washington Commanders' Ashburn facility and was met by Natalie Spala of ABC 7 in Washington, D.C. She quickly inquired, "What do you want people to really know about your game? Other than we saw you out there communicating with everyone right away. We know you are a learner at heart, but what do you want people to know?"

The former Rutgers quarterback, whom the Commanders selected with their final draft choice in this year's draft (223 overall) in the seventh and final round, instantly smiled and without hesitation responded, "I am sneaky athletic." Repeating himself, he began all over, "I am sneaky athletic."

Elaborating a bit, Kaliakmanis continued, "There's some plays in college where you see it. But I can move a little bit too, for sure."

Spala, sensing his confidence in his athleticism, responded, "You are saying that with your chest a little bit. You want people to know that about you."

"Yeah, I do, for sure," said the rookie quarterback. "I hurdled a couple of people in college. So, I want people to see that," said Kaliakmanis. You know what, sure enough, when Kaliakmanis was earlier playing for the Minnesota Gophers, I found him displaying he indeed does have some 'get up.'

What this should remind all of us of, is that just because a player is drafted in the final round, or never makes it in the NFL, or his ceiling is he only becomes a QB3 in the NFL, these guys are better athletes than we realize. Just like in all other sports, there are many levels of skill, athleticism, and accomplishment that average folk like us simply don't realize.

So, with Kaliakmanis being behind two very athletic NFL quarterbacks in Jayden Daniels and Marcus Mariota, let's not be simplistic, thinking foolishly that Kaliakmanis is not athletic.